Dupont Circle

The architect of the Woodrow Wilson House and the Department of the Interior's Main Building designed this three-bedroom Italian Renaissance Revival as his private home.

The 1910 townhouse features three marble fireplaces; grand staircase and new elevator; balcony; chef's kitchen; parlor and dining and living rooms; primary bedroom with fireplace and skylit spa bathroom; and lower-level recreation room and second kitchen. Outside are a front garden, patio, back deck, and roof deck with panoramic city views. $3,450,000. Michael Rankin, TTR Sotheby's International Realty, (202) 271-3344.
Tenleytown

The Rest is one of the oldest houses in Washington, dating to the 1700s. The five-bedroom home on the city's highest point has views of the Washington Monument; tradition says Dolley Madison watched from its tower as the White House burned in the War of 1812.

Among its historic details are eight fireplaces, blown-glass windows, original floors and cabinetry, and hand-hewn chestnut beams. The 0.4-acre lot includes a guesthouse, pond, pergola, and grape arbor. $3,679,500. Wicca Davidson, Long & Foster/Luxury Portfolio International, (301) 980-5596.
Capitol Hill

The 1903 Deer House is iconic for its gala parties held indoors and out. Built by Antonio Malnati, a stonecutter who worked on the Executive Office Building, the seven-bedroom home features stone and wood carving; four fireplaces; a chef's kitchen, wine cellar, and beamed, chestnut-paneled dining room; a generous living room; and a large in-law suite.

The double lot has a landscaped front, a side porch, a garden courtyard with hand-painted mural, and a garage. $3,850,000. The Gary & Michael Team, Coldwell Banker Realty, (202) 439-6009.
Logan Circle

This 1885 five-bedroom Victorian stands just off historic Logan Circle. The house has crown moldings, arched doorways, three fireplaces, and a four-story stairwell skylight; a gourmet kitchen with floor-to-ceiling cabinets, leading to a separate entertaining area with butler's pantry, wine cooler, and fireplace; a second-floor owner's suite with custom closets, bathroom with steam shower, and library with fireplace; and two lower-level rental studio apartments.

Outdoor space includes a front garden and roof deck. $2,850,000. Carrie Mann, Compass, (301) 792-3135.
Capitol Hill

The Doolittle-Tullock House, a Richardsonian Victorian designed by Robert Stead in 1887, has hosted many political receptions.

Currently owned by noted biographer James Swanson, the five-bedroom home includes nine fireplaces, an arched stained-glass window, a balcony with views of Capitol Hill, two parlors, a library with a bay window, a dining room with walnut coffered ceilings, and a fourth-floor garret that may have been the studio of Lincoln Memorial sculptor Daniel Chester French. $3,599,000. Maggie Daley, Coldwell Banker Realty, (202) 550-0972.
Petworth

In 1929, architects James E. Cooper and George T. Santmyers created Hampshire Gardens, the first fully developed garden apartment complex in the city. This top-floor unit has hardwood floors, arched doorways, high ceilings, large windows, a modern kitchen with dining area, an ample living room, an updated bathroom, and a large, bright bedroom.

The building is pet-friendly and includes extra storage space, a laundry, and access to expansive landscaped grounds. $224,900. David Bediz, Keller Williams, (202) 642-1616.
This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.